While many people believe that lucid or intentional dreaming is something that happens by chance or only to a lucky few, it's actually a skill that can be learned. There are certain techniques that have shown to be conducive to lucid dreaming stories, and when these techniques are practices on a regular basis, virtually anyone can become adept at controlling their dreams. There are many benefits which have been associated with the ability to exert intention in one's dreams, and they include everything from overcoming fears and phobias to establishing an open connection between the conscious and subconscious mind.
Just imagine the feeling of flying or floating, or realizing some other long-held fantasy. Learning to control one's dreams can be fun when this skill is used in the vivid creation of fantasy. This is also an effective means to reduce stress which carries over into waking consciousness. Some people have used lucid dreaming as a means to reconnect with lost loved ones, as well.
Nightmares can be controlled, and their outcomes altered, by learning to maintain a conscious awareness throughout the dreaming process. People who suffer with nightmares describe a much more traumatic experience than that of the average "bad dream." Frequent and vivid nightmares can have a paralyzing effect on the dreamer, affecting psychological and even physical health.
The creative self typically lives in the subconscious. Our subconscious mind speaks to us through our dreams. By developing lucid dreaming skills, one can establish two-way communication between the conscious and subconscious mind, thereby unleashing one's creativity to its fullest extent.
The ability to solve problems with the help of the subconscious is a powerful and useful benefit of learning intentional dream control. In this instance, the dreamer may be able to gain some insight into the particular causes of a problem. Many people employing lucid dreams as a tool for problem-solving will work through a variety of possible solutions throughout their dreams in an effort to determine the best possible outcome.
Disorders such as those experienced by people diagnosed as obsessive-compulsive as well as inexplicable phobias often have roots buried deep in the subconscious mind. Lucid dreaming can help a person to uncover the source of these disorders. Additionally, this is a powerful tool in the overcoming of such issues.
Our higher self speaks to us regularly, though it's ways are subtle and often very difficult to recognize or understand. Lucid dreaming is a wonderful vehicle of spiritual growth and awareness, enabling us to establish a direct and comprehend-able connection to spirit though dream control and retention. The valuable information relayed to us is more easily identified in our conscious lives and easier to understand when we connect with spirit directly in this way.
There are thousands of lucid dreaming stories to illustrate these very powerful purposes, as well as many others. Intentional dreaming is a skill that can be learned through the practice of a variety of techniques. When one masters the art of dream control and conscious awareness, the benefits are practically limitless, especially when it comes to the areas of self-improvement and evolution of spirit.